Handle for self-closing faucets.



J. MUELLER.

HANDLE FOR SELF CLOSING FAUCETS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1911.

1,091 1672. Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

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JOHN MUELLER, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

HANDLE non semi-cuisine FAUCETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 3, 1911.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911. Serial No. 618,672.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN MUELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handles for Self- Closing Faucets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvementin handles for self-closing faucets, and the invention consists in the construction of parts substantially as hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of a faucet which embodies my invention, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the upper portion there of. Figs. 3, 4c and 5 are cross sections of details appertaining particularly to the ea or handle portion, the index button and the disk shaped button securing nut, and Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is 'a detail of the nut for confining said button, shown in section Fig. 5.

It is of course understood that an axially rotatable faucet handle or bulb of a size adapted to be gripped by the hand is not broadly new at this time, and yet it has been found that there is need of improvement in handles in order to render them comfortable to the hand and that the index button may be so confined as not to be approachable and removable from the outside. This has been one of the serious objections to such buttons because children and other people are constantly tampering with them, especially when easily removed from the outside. Therefore I provide a handle which is not amenableto this objection and which comprises a substantially cup shaped base or body portion B mounted rotatably upon the top of the body E of the faucet and in which there are cams and ball bearings, or their equivalent covered by the skirting b of said base B as seen in Fig. 2.

C represents the cap or cover member of the handle, and in this instance has a flange 2 at its bottom shouldered inward from edge a which rests flush on the top edge of base B, and said flange is threaded on both sides and adapted to be screwed into the top of base B while the inner thread 3 thereon supports the nut or disk D inside. The top of the cap C is slightly convex or evenly rounded over its top so as to make it comfortable for the palm of the hand in opening the faucet, and in order to obtain a good grip on the handle I provide the base with a series of scallops 5 and intervening projections 6 alternately about the upper side portion thereof. These afiord a sure grip to the hand without harshness and are ornamental in addition.

Gr represents a china or similar index button which, in the present invention, has the original and novel feature of being seated from within the cap C rather than being seated or confined from without, as formerly. To this end the said cap has a cir cular hole or opening 0 centrally in its top and the said. button being placed over said opening inside is secured by means of a removable substantially disk shaped nut D. Said nut has a threaded outer edge which screws into the inner thread 3 of flange (a on the cap, and said nut has the further feature of a central annular hub 7 raised above the connecting webbing 8 thereof and adapted to bear uniformly against the said button and hold it firmly in place.

By the foregoing construction the button G is confined inside the cap and held where it is placed to be read and where it cannot be approached or tampered with except by means of tools adapted first to remove the cap and then the confining nut or disk D after the cap has been taken off. This obviously requires time, tools and skill, andrenders the button safe as against such tamperings as have heretofore been practiced. Furthermore the said button is provided with slightly inclined sides adapting it to the correspondingly beveled seat in the edge of hole 0 in which said button fits snugly to prevent dust and dirt from working in and otherwise conforms on its outer contour to the rounded top surface of the cap, making a smooth exterior over all the exposed surfaces engaged by the hand. Finally it is to be observed that the valve V is supported on spindle 10 and depressed by spring S arranged to bear down upon the valve and hold it normally on its seat. The upper end of said stem extends through the body member B of the handle and is secured therein by screw 9 or other suitable means.

Hub 7 of confining nut D is open centrally so that accommodation is afforded for the head of screw 9 which detachably secures handle B upon valve stem 10, said handle having an opening centrally within its bottom to rotatably sleeve over said stem. lVhen cap C is removed, screw 9 may be reached, and when this screw is removed, handle B may also be lifted from valve body E. In removing cap 0, index button G is not disturbed, unless exchange or other reason dictates, which exchange may then be accomplished by unscrewing disk D.

One of the novel points about this construction is the fixed confinement of the button in the cap by the ring or disk shaped nut D. It follows that having placed the button in the cap and followed it up with said nut the desired setting of the but-ton can be accomplished before the parts are otherwise assembled, and thereafter the three parts C, D and G are essentially unitary and can be taken off and put on as one art.

What I claim is:

1. A self-closing faucet having a horizontally rotatable handle of substantially bulb shape, said handle comprising a substantially cup shaped base having a relatively narrowed skirting about its bottom and an internal thread about its top, a cap with a convex top surface having a circular opening in its center and provided with a down flange at its bottom threaded on both sides and screwed into said thread on said base, the outer edge of said cap being flush with the outside of said base, an index button seated in said opening from Within said cap and a ring shaped nut screwed into the inside of said threaded flange on the cap and pressing at its middle portion against said button.

2. A handle for faucets comprising a base of substantially cup shape having a screw thread within its top, a cap with a uniformly rounded top surface flush with said base at its edge and having an annular flange at its bottom threaded inside and outside and screwed into said base on its outer thread, an index button seated centrally from within said cap and flush on its outside with the top surface thereof, and a substantially ring shaped nut screwed upon the inside thread of said flange and having a central raised port-ion bearing against the said button and holding it in place.

3. In self-closing faucets, a substantially bulb shaped handle comprising a cup shaped base and a cap with a smooth rounded exterior screwed into said base, an index button seated centrally from within said cap and exposed on the top thereof and a nut screwed 1nto said cap and bearlng agalnst said button, whereby said cap can be removed and have said button fixed therein.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MUELLER.

WVitnesses:

E. M. FISHER, F. C. MUSSUN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

